Regulation of financial stimulation of regional airports in the European Union : a case study of the airport Münster-Osnabrück

In this thesis the research question “How do the European Union, the German national government and the sub-national German governments regulate the financial stimulation of the regional airport in Münster-Osnabrück and are the policies of the different institutional bodies consistent?” is answered. In order to come to a valid conclusion, first of all the European Union level is analyzed, because all national law of any Member State has to be consistent with European Union law. The most important thing in the field of regulation of financial stimulation of regional airports is the European Commission “guideline on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports”. After having drawn conclusions about the regulation and financial stimulation on the European Union level the case of Münster-Osnabrück is analyzed. Then, a look at the different German levels of governments, the national and sub-national levels, involved in regulating of the financial stimulation of the airport of Münster-Osnabrück is taken. Additionally, examples of the ways in which they do it are given. After this descriptive case, the consistency between European Union law and German national and sub-national law and the practice are tested. In the end an overall conclusion to the main research question can be given.